$21 Million Available for SoCal Cities and Counties to Invest in Clean Vehicles, Fuels and Transport

The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) recently approved $21 million for cities and counties within the South Coast air district to invest in local clean vehicle, fuel and transportation projects through its new Local Government Partnership Program.

The MSRC’s 2017 Local Government Partnership Program offers local agencies that participate in the AB 2766 Motor Vehicle Subvention Fund Program a pro-rata share of the MSRC’s available funding, avoiding the need for a competitive grant process or to award funding on a first-come, first-served basis.

Under the program, eligible vehicle purchase and lease categories include: light-duty zero-emission vehicles, medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles, and near-zero emission heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicles and engine re-powers. Infrastructure projects include: electric vehicle charging installation, and alternative fuel station construction or expansion. Jurisdictions with smaller populations also will be eligible to invest in these types of projects: traffic signal coordination and synchronization, bicycle active transportation programs, and first mile/last mile strategies.

The MSRC designed the program so that it can partner directly with eligible cities and counties to “jump-start” clean transportation projects that will be needed to successfully implement the 2016 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) developed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The AQMP provides the blueprint for how the region will achieve federal air quality standards, and highlights that air pollutant emissions must be reduced by an additional 75 percent in order to meet the 2023 federal ozone standard. The program emphasizes the need for an accelerated transition to zero and near-zero emission vehicles along with the necessary supporting infrastructure so that federal air quality standards can be met timely.

Applicants interested in applying for Local Government Partnership Program funding should participate in an MSRC-hosted workshop/webcast on October 3 at 10 a.m. (Access the webcast here: http://www.aqmd.gov/home/library/live-webcast?ms=AJvOQ4iMdjQ). Applications must be submitted by March 2, 2018.

The solicitation is available here.